Surgical Outcome Prediction Using 3D Surface Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for predicting surgical outcomes in plastic, aesthetic, and cosmetic surgery are limited by the accuracy of theoretical models and lack of empirical data, leading to unreliable visualizations based on photographs, which do not account for individual patient variations and specific surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a database of previously performed surgical procedures to match patient-specific surface representations with similar past cases, applying deformation maps to predict the outcome of a proposed procedure, ensuring a more accurate and personalized prediction by minimizing metric distortion between surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If theoretical models are used to predict surgical outcomes, then prediction capability is provided, but accuracy is limited due to model inaccuracies and limited applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies (3D surface representations) of actual patient body parts from pre-surgery and post-surgery photographs. These copies serve as empirical templates that can be directly compared and applied to new patients, replacing theoretical models with actual observed outcomes from similar patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by building a database of 3D surface representations from previously performed surgeries before needing to make predictions. This pre-computed empirical data is then readily available for comparison and application to current patients, eliminating the need for theoretical modeling at the time of prediction.
2Ease of operation
If photograph-based comparison methods are used, then visualization of past results is provided, but reliability is reduced due to patient variations and procedure details
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D photograph comparisons to 3D surface representations. This dimensional upgrade allows for more accurate geometric comparisons, accounting for patient variations and procedure details by capturing the full three-dimensional geometry of body parts rather than relying on flat images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for comparison from simple 2D image properties to comprehensive 3D geometric parameters including surface curvature, volume, and spatial relationships. This enables more reliable matching between patients and procedures by considering multiple geometric dimensions simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If 3D surface scanning is used to acquire digitized representations, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple cameras and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the 3D scanning system universal by designing it to work with standard digital photograph cameras rather than requiring specialized expensive equipment. The same camera system used for taking regular photos can be utilized for creating 3D surface representations through the described image processing methodology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical scanning devices with a computational approach using standard cameras. Instead of using specialized 3D scanners or multiple synchronized cameras, the patent uses image processing algorithms applied to photographs to reconstruct 3D surfaces, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for planning a current medical procedure to be performed on a body part of a current patient includes obtaining a current first representation of a surface of the body part of the current patient, and either obtaining a representation of a desired result surface for the current medical procedure or selecting parameters for the current medical procedure. The method further includes retrieving at least one best matching record from a database of records of previously performed medical procedures of previous patients, based on a similarity criterion. Each record includes: parameters of a previously performed procedure of the previously performed medical procedures, a first representation of the body part of the previous patient prior to performance of the previously performed procedure, and a second representation of a body part of the previous patient after the performance of the previously performed procedure. The method further includes determining parameters of the current medical procedure based on the parameters of the retrieved record, or generating a representation of a predicted result for the current medical procedure on the body part of the current patient based on the retrieved record.